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German government approves Chinese company COSCO taking minority stake in Hamburg container terminal

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:35:30 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Germany gave final approval Wednesday for a Chinese company to take a significant minority stake in the operator of a container terminal at the Hamburg port, following concerns that a larger buy-in might pose a national security risk.The government said it would stick to a compromise agreed to last year barring COSCO Shipping from acquiring more than than 24.99% of the Tollerort terminal of Hamburg port logistics company HHLA.Two junior partners in Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s governing coalition — the Greens party and the Free Democrats — demanded the cap last year, warning that a larger stake could give China undue control over Germany’s critical infrastructure.HHLA said the approval would allow it to become a preferred handling location for COSCO. About 30% of the goods handled in the Port of Hamburg already come from China or go to China, it said, adding that the transaction would be finalized soon.COSCO also holds stakes in several other European ports, includin...

Oscar nominee Terrence Howard and partner Mira Pak launch upstart talent discovery platform Holly

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:35:30 GMT

(new Image()).src = "https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=9be9c680-c459-4acb-af21-654a2ccca384&cid=c2ffed0c-3624-46c0-b10f-97c976d290a3";cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "9be9c680-c459-4acb-af21-654a2ccca384",mediaId: "0eca07dc-a42a-4bdc-8d03-821ccbbbbcbc"}).render("a551cff234054e48a638d484144a0e33"); });Hear our full chat on my podcast “Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley.” toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley chats with Terrence Howard to preview Holly (Part 1) $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); ...

Delays, cancellations at DIA due to weather

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:35:30 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The Pinpoint Weather team has issued a Pinpoint Weather Alert Day due to strong storms along the Front Range, around the Denver metro and onto the Eastern Plains, which are causing delays and cancellations at Denver International Airport.The worst of the storms are expected in the afternoon into the evening hours with damaging winds, large hail and isolated tornadoes in the Denver weather forecast. Here’s what areas are in an enhanced risk for severe storms Wednesday As of 12:30 p.m., there are 199 delays and 70 cancellations according to FlightAware tracking. The airport is encouraging all travelers to check their flights ahead of time due to the weather. The storms are expected to last through the evening and overnight potentially causing additional delays into Thursday morning.

Wagner still holds significant territory in Bakhmut, US officials say

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:35:30 GMT

Forces affiliated with Wagner, Russia’s leading paramilitary organization, continue to hold the majority of territory in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut and possess significant stockpiles of ammunition despite some losses, according to two senior U.S. officials.In the last week, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of Wagner, appeared in a slew of videos on social media threatening to withdraw his soldiers entirely from the city — where they have led the fighting for the Russians in recent months —in part because they did not have the necessary weapons and ammunition.Instead, Prigozhin said, Chechen forces should take over. The Wagner boss later recanted that threat, saying in one video the Russian defense ministry had made assurances it would send additional resources to the frontline. “We’ll keep pushing for a few more days,” he said.The statements sparked widespread speculation that Wagner fighters may soon leave Bakhmut altogether, potentially creating an opening for Ukrainian fo...

Police arrest Dorchester woman in connection with Newton road rage stabbing

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:35:30 GMT

A Dorchester woman has been arrested in connection with a road rage stabbing in Newton last week, state police announced. Police said troopers took 27-year-old Imani Abraham into custody on Wednesday, six days after police said she allegedly stabbed a 32-year-old Quincy man in the leg in the parking lot of the Daly Memorial Rink on Nonantum Road. Police said Abraham followed the Quincy man to the rink on May 4 after they said their vehicles nearly contacted each other on I-93 in Dorchester. Once at the rink, police said Abraham allegedly left her vehicle and stabbed the Quincy man before getting back in her vehicle and leaving the scene. The man was taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, officials.Abraham was then arrested Wednesday at her workplace in Braintree, officials said. She is now facing charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Abraham is expected to be arraigned in court ...

Rep. George Santos pleads not guilty to charges alleging fraud, theft at heart of campaign

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:35:30 GMT

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) — U.S. Rep. George Santos, the New York Republican infamous for fabricating his life story, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges he duped donors, stole from his campaign and lied to Congress about being a millionaire, all while cheating to collect unemployment benefits he didn’t deserve.Santos’ 13-count federal indictment was a reckoning for a web of fraud and deceit that prosecutors say overlapped with his fantastical public image as a wealthy businessman — a fictional biography that began to unravel after he won election last fall.Santos, 34, was expected to be released on $500,000 bond following his arraignment, about five hours after turning himself in to authorities on Long Island to face charges of wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds and making false statements to Congress. He could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.Santos said little during his arraignment, which lasted about 15 minutes. His lawye...

Voting technology company Smartmatic subpoenas Trump campaign as part of $2.7 billion lawsuit against Fox News

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:35:30 GMT

(CNN) — The voting technology company Smartmatic has subpoenaed Donald Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign for a wide array of documents as part of its $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News over its airing of election lies.The subpoena, which was issued in April and made public in a court filing on Tuesday, requires the Trump campaign to turn over documents related to Smartmatic, Fox News, and the allegations of fraud the campaign falsely made about the 2020 election.Although the subpoena does not need court approval, the potential for legal wrangling over it hasn’t yet begun. Once served, the Trump campaign can fight it in court. A judge could then quash it, narrow its scope or let it stand.CNN reached out to Trump’s 2024 campaign for comment and was directed to the 2020 campaign. It was unclear who, if anyone, was still affiliated with the 2020 campaign.Smartmatic, like Dominion Voting Systems, was swept up in baseless conspira...

The most popular search engine in the world is about to look different

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:35:30 GMT

(CNN) — Google is moving forward with plans to bring AI chat features to its core search engine as it works to keep pace with a wave of new artificial intelligence tools that could threaten the company’s dominance online for the first time in decades.The company on Wednesday said it is introducing the next evolution of Google Search, which will use an AI-powered chatbot to answer questions “you never thought Search could answer” and to help get users the information they want quicker than ever.With the update, the look and feel of Google Search results will be noticeably different. When users type a query into the main search bar, they will automatically see a pop-up with an AI-generated response in addition to displaying traditional results.Users can now sign up for the new Google Search, which will first launch in the United States, via the Google app or Chrome’s desktop browser. A limited amount of users will have access to it in ...

Airbnb sees record bookings despite recession fears

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:35:30 GMT

(CNN) — Shares of Airbnb fell more than 10% in trading Wednesday after the travel company offered a more muted outlook for the current quarter than some analysts had expected.Airbnb on Tuesday reported strong revenue growth and a new record for bookings during the first three months of the year, in a sign that demand for travel remains strong despite lingering recession fears.The company reported revenue for the quarter grew 20% to $1.8 billion, just beating Wall Street’s estimates. The company said nights and experiences booked on the platform hit a record high of over 120 million last quarter.“More guests are traveling on Airbnb than ever before,” CEO Brian Chesky said on a call with analysts Tuesday. “We’ve seen our highest number of active bookers ever, despite continued macroeconomic uncertainties.”“During the quarter, we also saw guests booking trips further in advance, supporting a strong backlog for q2,” he added. “...

Lucas: Mistakes happen! I know but the Globe doesn’t [+old clips]

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:35:30 GMT

Reporters make mistakes.I know, I’ve made mine.But we all don’t get fired over them.That is why it came as quite a shock when the Boston Globe abruptly threw long-time investigative reporter Andrea Estes under the bus following her disputed MBTA story that had transit executives living far from the workplace.Estes was unceremoniously fired just days after her April 23 Globe story appeared, and it immediately sent a chilling wave of uncertainty among young and aspiring investigative reporters.If the paper could treat a reporter of Estes’ stature so badly, what does that mean for novice or much lesser established reporters? And exactly what was her “crime?” The paper did not say.And the paper acted as though the muddled MBTA story its editors approved to run was the first time the Globe had been forced to retract, revise, bury or “eat” a story, as we used to say in the newspaper business.The management of the Globe, which demands transparency and accountability in all things, has gone...